'And breathe...30 valuable lessons we learnt over the holidays'

I survived the holidays!

We have had lots of happy days filled with sunshine and laughter, and memories to treasure. We've also had days with tantrums, "I'm bored" and time that seems to move at a snails pace. All in all a mixed bag.

My boys are 3 and 7. At times I have felt the need to split myself in half to keep both of them happy. At times I have watched them playing with tears in my eyes that all this will one day end. At times I have screamed into a pillow because they are driving me crazy with constant demands and whinging.

So here's what I learnt this summer...

Image of a Beach sunset, birds flying with the text lessons learnt from the summer holidays

Always keep the freezer well stocked with ice creams.

The holidays costs almost as much as Christmas!

It doesn't matter if you shop for school shoes at the beginning, middle, or end of the summer holidays, it is ALWAYS hell.

Despite the best intentions and having a whole six weeks, homework will always be left to the last minute.

It is impossible to keep a clean and tidy house.

If you say 'yes' to ice creams for breakfast just once, they will ask you at least 17 times, every single morning for the next six weeks.

Always be prepared. Just because last time you had fish and chips at the beach and they were happy to throw stones in the water, doesn't mean that this time they won't throw themselves into the water. Everyone thinks it's hilarious until they have to drive home with no clothes on because Mummy didn't bring any towels.

Table manners will need to be retaught in September after 99.9% of meals for the last 6 weeks have been alfresco (aka eating on the floor of the playhouse between water fights).

There are days when "I'm bored" will be said so often you will want to shove your head in the oven.

Working from home is very difficult. Interruptions are one thing, but when I worked in an office no one interrupted me because they needed me to wipe their butt.

A bowl of water in the garden provides hours of entertainment.

The husband having two weeks off work saved my sanity.

Punishments for bad behavior change, because quite frankly "no TV" is more of a punishment to me.

Kids ask on average 300 questions a day. Some days 297 of these questions will be asked before 7am.

Late nights NEVER lead to a lie in the next day.

Late nights ALWAYS lead to grumpy behavior the next day.

If your neighbours don't have kids, they will probably hate you by mid August.

Going to the park can become an entire day out.

Playing outside all day means my kids look like street urchins and the bathwater is a very questionable colour once they are clean.

The snack cupboard needs replenishing daily.

I have a new found respect for teachers.

Facebook can give me holiday envy.

Having a bad day doesn't make me a bad Mum.

McDonald's can be a lifesaver when you've been out all day and the kids are hungry NOW!

You will get bored of the sound of your own voice. "Please play nicely with your brother" "Stop shouting" "Please don't lick your brother".

Getting more craft practice doesn't make me any better at it. This is coming from someone who presented her husband with a painstakingly and lovingly made gift, to be asked: "did the kids make it?". #crapatcrafts